Nut-cracking machine.



D. B. WILI .IAMS. NUT CRAGKXNG MACHINE. APPLICATION ULEB MAY 9,1914.

1,132,817 Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

6 SHEETS-SHBBT 3 D. B. WILLIAMS. NUT cnAcKmG MACHINE.

Q APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. 1914. 1,132,817, Patented Mar. 23, 1913v 6 SHEETS^-SHBHT 4.

D. B. WILLIAMS. NUT CRACKING MACHINE. AFPLVATON FILED MAY 9, i914. 1,132,817, Patnted Mar, 23, IMS,

D. B. WILLIAMS. MJT CRAC/Kms MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY9=191IL 1,1 32,817, Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

6 SHBETS-*SHEET 6) GF "'E ORLEANS. LOUISIANA, ASSIGNOR., BY DRICT AND TIIESN'E SNA NUT AND MACHINE COMPANY, F NEVI ORLEANS NUT-CRACKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Har, 23, '1915.

Application tiled May 9, 1914` Serial Noi 837,481.

new :mtl 1 v tial lmwowmerits in Nut- Crfxckirg; Mn if ot' which the following Mimi@ on rcintvs to mit cracking; muchiiwry r ninr'v ot the typo designed for crm; thi ;-.hwll ot' elongated nuts, such aS n1-fha To thif-4 im: lh@ inrvution has for its priprovision ot' u mnchine poswtnl iitilitxv its itS adaptation for cracking f" mit in such n nummer as not to inni-:u 'u v horrid or ment :md to Dm mit', tho h'sttt r @wit-1; V,wml from the Shell in a perfect or huitiiitnllv perfect condition,

" l" r-ziwiriiig tho commerce- 1 fil :wml ohirvtft ot d l uoiriiiviohll w10 .x'i'thout, Stih- :r mout thore- ,qircinlly in immhirr in Crum' Stzmthil 12x; 0i', thi* is t vor" it t "*rllmeni n: l arranged of; to

`i Vorw Mono, or wfl it, tho monos for frnihing tho Sheila mrlliiior. 4In thi?l t linguistics from #writing machines whirh x5 v it mrnlvlf-iiamitni (l0/Vices to :w "t tlm mit; tho prtrluro means, thflt to wry :nmmimjx or Supplemental lovices which immature or rut @nd portions of the .Qhcll to in'itii t'rntlis which :iro fully dowfV/wl hv rho frilrrfition of other means 'with the i' that n not-foot, Crucliing'of th'.` Sho?? All? wrm-s :mtl with ont :infra rotting devices curio@ the owls; of the :mts tri to tho 'Kernel and :in l ,iwrrinl willie, whereV zure of thc present muwird huroin, is that ot :Shelli the hrrnltzihg i' and n :'fowi l imp: i 21S :i fllchino, thmi of profit@ :i mmm; for 5o positioning and ohr mmm? thftt the more application im mmf-,mont or squeeze, from hmitod istance, serves to crnrlwil hy the hizprfiwwl imwhwwi" imiizlwr of; to porhiit tho rou kormi or mout. in xiliizilurrd im 1:1 collocation with the 'for n in'nportzmt nml prnrtitfzil if tho prorotl mau-hin@ is thzlt of @wrm-inf, positivo nml rclizihlo moans for ohtzainr i the simio (legrco or amplitude ol @www goo mort mont, rognrtloss ot' the hiagth ot tho nut, that i5 :uhuititofl to the machin@t Um of the grcntost obstacles to it Surf; hl uml Coimnorcinl pecan Cracking; liizirhiim is that horctol'i'wrr it has hoch iznmzwih t tho stimo r\:- zzxro or stmk@ to mit" ing lcixfl'th. will roiwtfuwiitly ,f-l rr;\,=lt`t huw only lrrvix :itunxnl Vfully' gratin? nuts :1ro innohiiem mit: gru/lui hf tor hrt nifiovontioo to limiti@ :i 'mi which ir nihiptnhio to hohl oi M ,f Z without hitorl'rxiog in thal t with ihr, action oi thv iut-,nils @'irllojfwl tot" 11l\\:\j-,isulijtctihil' awry wat to th will@ batt-nt of Ver romlt ol warming ofiin X Swuringj tho most sixt Y tort@1 :mtl also ohriuting; th ,liront Libor :mtl expense whioh otherr i, micossnry to ngc tho nuts: to uniform lfirlth before they :1re iritrotlucml into tho machine.

furthfsr gmwrnl ohiort, ot the` invention iQ to provide, n not Qrfwklno mfwhhrr including` :i minimum mzmhor ot' purthiloy :it tho mmf* timo no: mit i tifmzil rhzirnrtrr '-1 moli :itljll'ttuvhtrl wi. tho rum1iromt1it-i ot :ill rom nuts that :irrmrrioil throt mnthinos.

Another olritct, of tht i n' Cinto with the Cracking mrrhfliH and affettivo in zum tor rniiiliy cracked nut nml nutomntcnlaway obstructing shtll partido.

Vith these :mtl otht'r ohjorts i? View which will be. readily apparent to those i? to ossoiii siinpli tira tho clmziirg WmmMM/mw N... .Y

s or' the the @our a ezine i ,t intuire; t

that mu of the op plan h only the was line il---l-Ul of the ejector un for low' 'lV is n vertical nu i e slnjnving the, .farli the im lg'iast eicetor de ,e corre ot the.

' is ite orzuit entre n.; every i r: of coin-- maaier? pression movement in order to secure the` eicctual and perfect cracking of the shell hereinbefore indicated. That is to say, the pecan or similarly shaped nut, is designed to be automatically positioned and supported between the two compression members A and B and then subjected to .the fracturing force of a slight compression movement imparted to one of said members, followed by the quick automatic ejection of the cracked nut from the machine and the clearingr away of shell particles from the seating surfaces of the compression members.

Referring particularly to the construction and relation of the various elements embodiedin the nut'cracking unit, it is to be observed by reference to the drawings that the compression member A is of peculiar design and performs a dual function. This compression member (A) has a iXed location in the machine and forms one of the operating parts of the nut feeding mechai m, which mechanism includes a Haring icvnluliile supply hopper' 1 fitted to and carried by a rotary supporting sleeve 2. loosely journaled on a central bearing projection or 3 arranged centrally at the upper side of the machine frame 14. The latter may conveniently be of an open rectangular' form having the upper and lower frame liars 5 and 6 respectively. and the end pieces 'T connecting the ends of said bars to complete a rigid framework. but of course the structural form of the frame is of minor importance and not material to the invention. though it has been found preferable to make it of the general form indicated and support the same in an elevated position upon the legs or standards 8 arising from a suitable frame base or bed 9.

The central bearing projection or boss 3 has its bore in communication with the opening through the hopper' supporting sleeve 2, and also with the opening through a stationary7 feeding head l0 supported f rom the central portion of the upper frame bar 5. The stationary feeding head 1() essentially consists of a cylindrical block cut away at'its lower end to provide a delivery mouth l] within which is mounted the upper compression member A. This upper rompression memher may be termed an automatic segregator because it performs two functions. namely that of a segrcgating gate :For permiting onlv one nut at a time to drop into the cracking zone, and as a stationary anvil or abutment within and against vvhich the upper end of the nut is seated and held while subjected to the end- 'wicc compressing force. In its structural aspect, the cutoff anvil or compressing memher A consists of a circular group of radially arranged abutment disks 12 which,v are eccentrically pivoted on supportingvrai portion `@he Said m l0. and i linphlaffenunt hy ine leedinn' head 2in,`y Htr'uriural detail. the 1w' der l) La held non ab? v ar is pio ral in?,`

il?. and

mallj,y a ra aged Vid e( l rame monate? u 'i up!! `itely loeaiuii ai lv ed iu ,mutable lirearinu ai .i and on `the iramf- 'lv a: viooii'e aides of the peranf their@ a iw Sup; :in eine tati: 'plillifu zA 'liid rendi :repeating (nepi/wing d--\fribed, pfopei' neatlrf nerd fl is (mi leased 1 .d rarirrvfnt .mi al position wiveiy ad i nement.

@tive allow ojfed, lait a Simple am i musist ot a holder ri v of up 55 wardiy dnspoeifa i air; ged

heldere. for" in a circular group and having a pivotal Support at their lower ends, as at Q8, on the anvil or head Q5. The". arms 2T also have a movement into and out of a guiding seat 2f) formed in the upper Side of a vertically movable anvil carrier 30 arranged Within the lower part of the frame 4, and also having; a guide opening b1 through whieh the plunger Stem 2l extends and reeiproeates. YIt will thus be seen that the positioning and supporting anvil 35 hasy a vertiral movement independent o'lE the anvil carrier 30, and thie` movement is provided not only to permit the final compression movement or impulse to be independeulyY im parted to the Said anvil, but also for the purpore of automatically closing and opening the centering holder 27-*27 respectively as the peean is to be centered and positioned ior the com pression movement and then freed So that the rraelted peean may be ejected from the maehine.

The movement of the positioning and supporting anvil 25 whieh carries the pee-an upward into seating engagement within and againwt the group of abutment disks 12 is provided for through the anvil carrier 30. For this` purpoSe the Said earrier 30 is Slidably guided at its ends as at 3:5 within the maehine frame and is normally retraeted in an upward direction by lifting springs 33 whose tension is suflieiently strong` to lift the :farrier 3() and the anvil Q5 quite independently of the compensating compression dei ire which gives the compression impulse 1.5 movement to the anvil or head 25. A novenufnt ol' the carrier in the opposite diiertion. so are to lower the head when a nel rv; lint deposited thereon, may be conveniently ari-complished by means of depresslng vaan: il mounted on the inner ends of ine jack shaft 22 and adapted to have a hearing engagen'ient at 34 on the upper Side oi the end portion of the carrier, as plainly -ahuu n in the drawings.

Ae already indicated, an important and essential feature of this invention is a oompeneatng compression device which provides means for imparting to the movable anvil 2.7, a constant Compression movement as dietinguished from a variable movement or stroke, as well as from a hammer blow suoli a blow being delivered to the nut by Some machines with invariable injury to the kernel. This constant compression movement when onee set is of the same degree or extent for all lengths of nuts 'being handied. and the compensating,r eompreseion de vieewhieh gives this movement or impulse ie made. up of three principal elements, namely a variably-Iiiovahle element which is the an ril plunger Q4, a eon'ipensiting; elnteli, and .in impulse element, said compensating clutch, and impulse element being entirely disconnected except on the compression movement -for cracking the nut. The 0in pensating Gluten may be constrneted in @iiiJn ferent ways, but for iilnstrntive pnrpnse; it is shown in the drawing@ Qntiaiij; r-nn sisting si' n Verticiiiy mevae 'xering frame 35, a pair of revniniiiie iriiitehing liiqiis 36, each having .fz cencentrii'; 'iivntai .mounting 37 in the id trarne, and n bewind or wedge-shapec locking rie-tent '-;1dapted tn lock and nnniek tHe :mid disk..

The revoinbiy mounted disks of the colniiiensziting cinteh are arranged in the same transverse piane, edge te edge. in with their peripheries slightly separciteri fr leave :i Suiieient infermi within 'v 'in the riet/enr 38 pasfqes for wedging nr iietionnl engage mont with the disks wh tim vinnen is ein gaged. A movable conpiing eminertinn is: mintained lieti fn tir, die member rif the clnteh and the Yrsiifl 'ie eieiniw t m' anvil inni thi@ 3 l nr by iifiwisj the, anvil pinnger im ying Connection between the :i ,lie :invii :finti the dutch permits the in ii independent vertirnl mei tnrbing the position ni' the ries the disks 3V, and in is t he nii erred that the 01"' the risks themieiws n; fiiwxjvs constantSv so that reg'zirtiiegs in' the extent in which tiiev may be rotated in.' Lise iig; finti dimm www ment ofthe nmii Q5 in xitnpingj itself t0 nuts of varying lengths. ifeiiphei'ies nf the opposite disks S6 maintain the de reis tion. In order tr; huid igieni irryingf 'neming me nlm t, e rinvii im siniiinizirY 0r head 25 1S moving indi/@gir :ni ntiy tu adapt itself to the iengrth of he wint. i i pre ernbiy hns associated tiwi viti; time nniriing or retaining springs resper'tii'feiy connected therewith and with time nieichine. stand or frame sind if? siiiifsiani tension t@ prevent the frnme, 35 :imi the d 's 56 mmvving npwnrln except when i fed hv fha locking detent Yi'iien ai. r the irfnne 35 is supported on ie r sions .fir abiitments 44 on the nmehinrstenti' er frame. (See Fig. 1`}

The locking rieten 32% nn dement of the clutch which enrrier in? tine impulse.1 element referred in, :ind which imfnSe, ment is preferably in tiie 'ferm :in fljnstable operating pitinnn fixe iff element mim' simply mausi mi 'r shaped or tapered pin inning 5i f ii mminting 46 on the upper enY or ii 'of the pitmzin "Ui an! a inni-eti nu .j

pivot. so that it xviii ndjiiiei' its'c'f tu fini" in @qualities of the iting of the parts and wifi always precisely center itsef between sind journalier v fin.

rmhi'i inse mi? yr." in iem'iiiing ne prngnr one n'. n tim info die con 'f en the twv; nniw er uit of tin: sniziijf hunger Mined parte tu insa *I the nnte inte ine intiiezxi'e. is r Said the i" i t:

i, i. 1. (in (mit i i shaft euri' Mean: i nenne shifting; ab' fs ing; of ihr nuts it infr hund 11'? tde iwmer with an init ir agit 57 adapted to be hf i. y the @entrai rfiviiy u'iminirg bottoni m the hnifper sind gjiinmiiy et npSt-(ining :d inwu ri 'Y i eielii-`iis bringt the inns singig.' iwi by theywvili 'ne @inferi to (i x tiene finti iengi i 517 inte i re rennmf inea-ri( :fharga opening of;

iiliip met Linen intoY the feeding head 10.r -Th'esaid guiding tube 6G is of a size to freely accommodate those nuts of reasonably varyingdiameters which are intended to be accommodated by the machine, and for different grades of nuts having other varying diameters,dif ferently sized guiding tubes 60j may be readily inserted. This is a feature'o-prac tical importance by increasing the'rrange of adjustment for the machine.

The horizontally vibrating agitator has connected therewith an operating arm 61 eitending to a point outside of and beyond tle hopper and carried by a vertically aI-,

ranged oscillating supporting member G2 having a pivotal mounting as at `G3 0n a frame piece Gil and carrying a horizontal rigid dog GG adapted to be engaged by ratchet projections 67 on the periphery of the operating wheel 54. A retracting spring GS connected with said supporting member 62 normally holds the dog 66 yieldingly engaged with the ratchet periphery 67, so that as the wheel rotates the agitating device within the hopper will be intermittently and sharply vibrated so as .to compel the nuts to be promptly@ and positively fed into tube 60, and thence to the feeding head l0 where they are delivered one at a time through the agency of the automatic cul-od anvil A.

The tracked nuts are singly discharged or eji.y ted to one 'de of the machine, immediately after the compression movement by means of an automatic ejecting device. This device may be constructed and operated in diii'erent ways, but a preferred and effective forni of construction shown in the acco1npanying drawings (see Fig. 10) and essentially consists of a swinging kicker frame Gi) pivotally hung :it its upper ends, at 70, from the urper part ot the machine traine 4 and noi "ly retracted to un outward noninteri ing petition by means of suitable reti-acting springs 'Tl connected therewith an-il'also with the machine traine. 'llie swinging ends oi the kicker frame 69 carry a contact 'YQ for engagement with 'the cracked nut without injuring figue latter. To provide for the Quick swinging movement of the kicker frame (Si) ac''oss the vertical. plane of the two compression members or anvils and between the latter, a toggle lever may be satisfactorily employed. This toggle lever, as shown.v consists ot' the pivotallyconncctcd lever nier. bers 73 and 74, which in turn are respectively pivoted to the anvil carrier 30 and to 'the side members .ot the kicker frame (Ef) contiguous to the pivotal support T0 therefor. Consequently, the straightening out of the toggle 7f3- 7l by a lowering movement of the anvil carrier 3() provides means Yfor sharply swinging the kicker .traine against the cracked nut with the result of displacing the saine from the i of the shell particles.

supporting anvil B and into a discharg ing chute which directs the cracked nuts into a suitable receptacle.

In connection with the eject-ing meansit is preferable to automaticalljv1 away obstructing shell particles so that they xviii not interfere with the full and proper seating of the nut on the positioning or supporting anvil 25. One simple and practical ineans for accomplishing thi; result is to have the contact cushion 72 in the torni of a brush which will not oniy proride a s it contact for the nut, but at the time wilifsweep the upper surface of the movable anvil free Another means whereby this may be accomplished is shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, and consists` of a blast nozzle 76 carried with the swinging Contact end of the kicker frame and having a flexible tubo connection 'Z7 with the delivery pipe 7S of an air pump 79 suitably supported on the machine base, and ha Ting its piston rod v(which in the type of pump shown is the delivery pipe) connected as at 80 with a bracket arm 8l carried by the vhead 46 of the pitmsn 45. The air pump and its connections provide ineens for dirccting a blastbf air downwardly through the nozzle 7G into the cavity or socket 26 of the anvil Q5 when the swinging end o the kicker frame passes over the anvil.

Referring briefly to the sequence of operations involved in the feeding, positioning, and cracking of the nuts, it .has already been observed that the nuts are fed singly, with the assistance of the agitator within the hopper, frointhe latter through the guiding tube 60 and into the stationary feeding head 1,0 where the lowerinost nut in the guiding tube is arrested by rthe group ot abutment disks 12 when in their closed posilions to constitute the bottom ot' the feeding head. In such position7 the said lowerinost nut is ready to be dropped thel entomatic cutoif anvil onto the tioning and Supportinganvil 25 and'witnin te arrns 27 of the centering holder assoch` d there 'ith To accomplish tliis,"tlie conroiiir'g lining cams 21 come into play by ac it against the operating arms 23 o?" t e recproczil ciosing collar 1G, thereby lifting the shoulders of said collar out ot' 'en rement with the eccentrically pivote-d which are thus pern'iitted to swing by gravity to the open seat 29 so that the arms 27 ei the wail, of the said seat and are held thereoy in urn-ight nut-holding or guarding position. When. a single nut has ,been thus dropped between and past the abutment disk 12, the depressmg cams 34 come into play and lower the anvil carrier 30 so tha/t the upper end of the nut clears the disks 12 sulliciently to permit.

the latten to swing upwardly to their closed position, and thereby holdvback the next succeeding nut and at 4the same time provide at the under side thereof circular seat which receives the upper tapered end of the nut. When theanvil carrier 3Q lowers sufiiciently to permit a proper clearance for the disk 12, the lifting cams I21 will have turned to positions where 'the depressing springs 19 are permitted `to come into play and rapidly depressthe closing device or collar 16 so that the inner shoulders 15 thereof engage the shoulders 14 of the disks 12 and swlng the same back to their closed positions shown in Fi 5 of the drawings.

20 Upon the closing o the abutment disks, the depressingcams 34 ease oil' from the anvil carrier so that the lifting springs 33 are permitted to lift .the carrier and the anvil heads 25 therewith, with the result of `25 bringing the nut solidly between the two members or anvils A and B (that is the anvil formed by the disks 12-12 and the anvil formed by the head 25). When the nut has been thus positioned and firmly caught be- 3o tween the two anvils, then, and then only, does the compression movement begin, it being understood that the upward final posi- ',tioning movement of the carrier 30 with Ifthe anvil head 25 is permitted by the mov- 35able coupling connectionbetween the lower movable anvil and the revoluble clutching .disks, which with their carrier 35 might properly be termed a clutch shoe. This compression movement has already been ex- 4o plained and is provided for by the engagement of the locking detent 38 between and against the peripheries of the oppositely ar-A ranged disks 36. This enga ement of the detent 38 with the disks 36 ocks the said disks against movement', and hence locks the same to the yoke 39 carried with the lower anvil head 25, so that the lower anvil, the cfimpensating clutch, and the impulse element or pitman 45 move together as a single element to the extent provided for by the adjustment of the turn-buckle 4:7. This movement is the compression movementl which places the held nut under a limited endwise compression with the result of bursting'or tracturing the shell about the middle. lVhen this occurs, that is the .corn pression movement, thelower envilhea 25 is moved independently of its carriro@ thereby carrying the head 25 out of the seat 29, so that the retaining arms 27 are so released thatl, they fall outwardly' to give the nut perfect freedom for the swell o?? the bursted shell. Then, the depressing cams 34 again 'come into play and depress the 55 anvil carrier 30, the lower anvil following i minor details of construction i device is straightened et the kicker frame 59 to eje in the manner already g various operations are rapidi, v in proper time or sequence, wi ily understood. From the foregoing, it will that changes in the form, pro',

ed to without departing from the @mit or sacricing any of the advent-aVx c5 vention, and, While the. pre las been lmore particularly reference to cracking nuts of the pecan "J it will be further understood that tb., cracking mechanism herein die-closed plicable generally to the crarkmg et torni ct edible nuts, stach as l i cuts, i"

iish walnuts, other shap nets that can he cracked te tage by being always euolect pression impulse olf relative sons regardless of 't sir size.

claim:

1. A nut cracking nut engaging compression meint' compensating device comprising justing conneetion with een member, and normallydisengage cal means having a friction-al in engagement with the seia.ii5ting tion, said reciprocal means iti-wing tively constant. stroke.

2. Anut craeki f nut. engaging comi' compensating device c justing connection w. member, and normallycal means having a Actionee ii engagement in a self-adjusting connefsztion, saidl means having a relatively fnac-laine ineladingt g, and

A nut cracking machine inclut-ug a nut engaging compression member and e. compensating Levine in n" Glied conmction ,h t; e en member, an( ,nornailwdi cal means having :t engagement of the i-adjus and moving taerewith in the same while intcdocked, seid having a relat v eestant sarei f mit engaging compensating dei justing eenncetion member, and n cal mer self adj ting conne and more the cempen dering te cempr V. i mx e n, uut cia-thing nut engaging compression member, and a compensating device comprising normally disengaged parts, one part having a self-ad justing connection with the compression member, and the other part having a stroke of relatively constant extent and a anged to positively interlock with said otheh part and move therewith in the same direction while interlocked.

6. A nut cracking machine including oppositely arranged compression members having means for clamping a nut endwise therebetween, one of said members being automatically adjustable to nuts of varyingr lengths, and a normally disengaged reciprocal compensating device having separable frictionalinterlocking means for imparting to one of said members a compression im pulse of relatively constant extent.

7. A nut cracking machine including a nut engaging compression member antomatically adjustable to nuts of varying lengths, and an automatic clutch connecting with said compression member and comprising normally disengaged parts having a frictional interlocking engagement, and means for imparting to the parts when intorlocked an impulse of relatively constant extent.

8. A nut cracking machine including a mit engaging compression member automatically adjustable to nuts ot' varying lengths, and an automatic clutch connecting with said compression member and comprising normally disengaged parts having a frictional interlocking engagement, and means for imparting to the parts when interlocked an impulse of relatively constant extent and in the same direction.

El. A nut cracking machine including op positcl \Y arranged compression members, and a compensating device including a rcciprocating impulse element, and an automatic clutch consisting ot' a reciprocal shoe member having an idle coupling or connection with one of the col'npression members, and a locking member carried by the impulse element and having a separable locking engagement with said Shoe member to lock said idle connection.

l0. A nut cracking machine including op' positely arranged compression members, and a compensating device including a reciprocating impulse, element, and an automatic clutch consisting of a reciproal spring-held shoe member having anidle connection thc impulse clement and having a separal'ile locking engagement` with said shoe. member.

ll. A nut cracking lnachine including oppositcly arranged compressimi members. and a compensating device. consisting of a reciprocating impulse element, a springrestrained clutch shoe having an idle gear with one ol the comilncssion members. and a locking member carried by connection y imembers, and a the impulse e" engagement i compression t arrieri by separa inciting latch .shoe to lock said idle gear i l2. A nut cracking; machine including op positcly arranged compio mrnibers, and a comme il., dei ling of a reciiirrocating longi alii-:adv a. ustabie impulse element. a spring: rained clutch 75 Shoe having an idle rainure with one of the compr: ion member/2. nel a locking member carried by the inipi. ,is lement for separable inciting engagement with the eie ments oi iin' ahi-e 'which proidr. said idle 30 connection 12S. A nut crackii n n a: hiding oppositely arra fini cianpr 11 members, and a compensiting device consisting of a reciprocating longitudinaily adinstable opg5 crating pitman ca. i'ying a hiking detent, and a sbring-rcsir...tred cimeli shoe having revoluble clutching disks irictionally engaged by the den it and havingr a normally idle gear connection with one. et the comw pression members.

1i. A nut cracking machine including oppositely arranged compnss'ioa members, and a compensating' device ci'insisting ot a reciprocal operating pitman carrying a locking dctent, a coupling* irried 'with one of thc compression m and having rack elements, and 1min?,y Hained clutch shoe carr \.'ing reachable wbiirbing disks geared with said rich cir-ment and en 100 gaged and lo" Ac nut crei .ting .la positcly arranged c and a conipensairvr; iireciprocating longitulim erating pitinan farming i coupling member ra. ew. 1 con'xprcssion mend/ers a n and a :prii'i;I--rrsti :iiru a rcvolubie zwmcinii, geared Si gagcd and i lli. lili" poe-:itchv ai and a con pcb reciprocal opcmoy: ingr (.lcteni a 9,;

nient filament ll'. in i sA the mmbnai bei' to be i3-m n.; rompen i roral op'l dctent, i shoe carry in. l,

www; said alumniin edging it. :lwi'vli wein xvii. y t mulini@ iwimimg up il wnapifwsimi iizn'ils, @ne

n is nui and is miami, i will :m

zi recipiniing impulse element'.

in isn Ui, and un automatic ing i i lily ifflle muy Ang" cnn*- nui fnlvijiwi m figugcd :ind ib intsiiiiis rw tlm Luisa elnnlsii., iixiufiiinw including I nfeliiding i: suini aleinsns nisngsi-r in fr discharging a mit anlfor caringliiem ai i closed psition to form a cnt-@l and. zi Cunipiession anvil, and means los' subieciii anvil :i mit to compression against Sid Y fn xwpunsiiely swing to positions perl a fsiziml'ge of i mit: and to posiiinns forming zut-olf and compression an vil.Y und me; foi subjecting nut to cmon "inst szfiiil anvil.

ti @lacking machine including u il mesi ii m im ving n cubo device consisiling of a mrunix-11.* group of radially clispnsed eccsniricaly pimted disks, means for musing said disks to swing to open and il pesitinns. and means for subjecting N mi to cmngirs simi against said disks.

A :im cranking' machine including-a faul mechanism having a Cnt-oil device C021- mg nf .fi plurali@ nl: mesentricnlly piv- Lfl iilnxlrmit disk-3 forming :i rigid comf i. wir mvmiar i2. machine, cum coniiclml mmm: lisiing :i member engaging 'V is 0 main tin'siiiiis in one direction, kz--silbjecting si nur; tu compression. against sind disks.

efa A. nui. cinch: machins including a f ed mechanism having :i cut-off device conaiming vf i pliifaliy nl eccntiically piv- :finrii disks" 17;. iecipr'o al closing collar having i w41 sid disks to turn the Lio -v in n Lich they foi-m a cution anvil, clim leml with sziiri collar, uml i'z'isnns for :siibjeczinff zi nur. to compres- :invii= king inrwiim including a i having; :i lisppei, a smiicm v i communication with the '1 1p-:iig :l who?? defficie wnsistzi of :i pluiailiti n?? www? ically pimtf'xl e isi's mount- @il in sul@ n iimliy operating lic-i1 s im to nin to open csail pos-ii dus, sini means fm' subaictmit, t om Inn against said disks im@ une itting v; {ig-ning the hopper @einnimmt disks, means for causing saidV 33 A. nut cracking machine including a feed'mechanism having a revoluble hopper. a vibrating agitator operating within the hopper,nieans for simultaneously rotating the hopper and communicating a violating motion to the agitator, and a shell cracking mechanism.

34. A ynut cracking machine including a frame having a be ring, an operating wheel 'ournaled on said bearing, ar hopper carried y said Wheel, a vibrating agitator' operatin Within the hopper and actuated from Said Wheel, driving means for the said wheel, and shell cracking mechanism.

35. A nut cracking machine including a frame having a bearing, an operating wheel journaled on said bearing and having peripheral ratchet projections, a hopper carried by said wheel, and an agitating device including a member operating Within the hopper and also having an 'exterior pivotally mounted oscillating support carrying a rigid dog" yieldingly engaging said ratchet projections, and a shell cracking mechanism.

36. In a nut cracking maci'iine, the con.- bination with a shell cracking mechanism, of a feed mechanism having a hopper a nd an agitator therein, said agitator being provided with a horizontally vibrating ring having opstanding agitator lingers and projections on the latter, and means for actuating said agitator.

37. A nut cracking machiney including a relatively stationary anvil, a` movable supporting anvil, a mechanically controlled ris ing and fallin anvil carrier for the mov( able anvil, an a compensating device h aving means for imparting a compression impulse to the movable anvil independently of said carrier.

38. A nut cracking machine includingr a relatively stationary anvil, a vertically movable anvil carrier, a movable supporting arr vil slidably suspended by the anvil cnrici, means for causing the said carrier-tto suc cessively lower and raise in positioning and clamping the nut bet-Ween the two anvils, and a compensating device having` ineansfor imparting an independent compression 1inpulse to the movable anvil.

39. A nut Vcracking machine 'iccliuling a relatively stationary anvil, a vertically moivm able anvil carrier, a movable suppmftin,oY an vil carried. by the anvil :arrier4 an eiecting device, means for causing the carrier to sucw cessively lower and raise in poaiti ning and clamping the nut between thevti vils and then to lower to an extreme posi on to tree a cracked nut to the ejector, inea yi for parting an independent. compression iur pulse tothe movable anvil, and ou tor o3 erating means. r

40. A nut cracking machine inch-:ling a relatively stationaryy anvil, a ifiirticailvf movl' able anvil carrier, a movable supporting anvil carried by the anvil carrier and havin an automatic nut centering holder. men for operating the carrier. and means for imparting an independent compression iinpulse to the movable anvil.

4l. A nutcracking machine including a relatively stationary anvil, a movable supporting anvil, an. automatic nut centering holder disposed above the movable anvil, moans for opening and closing the holder, means for imparting a compression impulse to the movable anvil. and ejecting means.

42. A nut cracking machine including a relatively stationary anvil, a vertically movable anvil carrier. a movable supporting anvil carrying a plurality of opstanding pivotal retaining arms adapted to be closed and opened by respectively engaging and being freed from theA anvil carrier. means for operating the carrier. means for imparting an irnlcpendent compression `impulse to the movable anvil, and electing means operating when said retaining arms are open.

4?. A nut craokiiig-machine including a relatively stationary anvil. a vertically movable anvil carrier, a moi able supporting anvil carried by said carrier, means for causing the carrier to respectively lower and raise in positioning and clamping the nut between the tivo anvils. and then to lower to an cxtreme position with the nut when orari-ned, means for iinparting a compression impulse to the movable anvil, an ejecting device, and ejector operating means opera.- tively actuated. by the anvil carrier when it moves to said extreme position with v a cracked nut.

44. A nut cracking machine including a relatively stationary anvil, a vertically movable anvil carrier, a supporting anvil caried by said carrier, means 'for operating the carrier, means for imparting a compressionv impulse to the anvil, and an ejecting device consisting of a swinging spring-retracted kicker frame. and a toggle lever connection between said frame and the anvil a rrier.

45. .fi nut cracking machine including oppositely arranged anvils, a movable carrier for one ot' the anvils, means for independently operating the carrier, means for causing a relative compression movement between the two anvils. and an ejecting device having operating connections with the anvil carrier.

46. .li nut cracking machine including a shell cracking mechanism, an eject-ing device. and a mechanical cleanin device havi means for clearing away eil particles from the shell cracking mechanism, and means 'lfor operatii said cleaning device.

A nut rcraclnng machine including a shell cracking mechanism, and an autoinat1- Sfr. fx nut cracking machixwl including a Cracking mechanigxnT and an ejectng uw, h2 vng a swinging kicker frame carzum; @E two witnesses. 

